5 reasons why Bills should enter Le'Veon Bell sweepstakes

5 reasons why Bills should enter Le'Veon Bell sweepstakes

Pittsburgh running back Le’Veon Bell is set to become a free agent this spring. Should Buffalo take a look at his availability during the free agent period?

The ultra-talented two-time All-Pro has been speculated as only a fringe candidate for the Bills to inquire about. However, it doesn’t mean that Buffalo is a complete long shot at adding the three-time Pro Bowler.

Let’s play devil’s advocate in this instance. Buffalo already has running back LeSean McCoy under contract for one more year. Even so, it wouldn’t hurt to see if there is a better option available for the team.

Here are five reasons why the Bills should explore signing Bell.

McCoy’s perceived regression

McCoy has been a standout for the Bills during his first three years in Buffalo. He has reached the Pro Bowl in each season in the red, white, and blue. He has the reached the pinnacle moment of his NFL career by eclipsing the 10,000-yard rushing mark. McCoy Gaines 3,300 yards, 141 receptions, and 27 total touchdowns.

However, this season has been different. The six-time Pro-Bowler has shown fleeting glimpses of his old self. He is averaging only 42 rushing yards per game. It took McCoy nine games to find this end zone this season.

It may be a bit premature to share that McCoy is on the downslope of his career. McCoy will be 31-years-old next season, and his best days may be behind him. Now might be the time to find his replacement.

Bell is well-rested

Bell’s decision to sit out the 2018 season will undoubtedly rub some people the wrong way. However, a season away from a 400-plus touch season may help within the longevity department.

Bell averaged 308 touches over his first five seasons. To put this in perspective, McCoy averaged 284 touches during the same portion of his career. The numbers are close enough that Bell’s regular season performance with respect to touches does not overwhelm McCoy’s game involvement.

The soon-to-be former Steeler will be 27-years-old when next season kicks off. He is in the prime of his career. With the trailing off of a running back’s production often occurring may age 30, Bell may be buying an extra year at the rails end of his career to put up massive numbers.

Plus, Bell has not had to shoulder as much of the offensive load in Pittsburgh as McCoy has had to do in Buffalo. This wear and tear has had an impact on McCoy.

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Bills cap situation

There is no one who will (or should) advocate for the Bills to spend foolishly this summer. Nevertheless, chances to sign a top-five player at a such a prominent position do not come along often.

Buffalo will have approximately $80-$90 million in salary cap space this spring. Buffalo should be able to fill some gaps on the offense via free agency and the draft. In addition, to bring in a high-caliber player such as Bell. Reports indicate that Bell is interested in a contract in excess of $17 million per year. That’s a large chunk of change, but with so many players in Buffalo playing on entry-level deals, now might be the time to take such a gamble.

Lack of dynamic wide receivers available in free agency

The wide receiver market lacks game-breaking talent, although there are several options that may work as a strong number-two option out wide for Buffalo. Without being able to bring in a strong playmaker at the receiver position, the Bills will need to look elsewhere to find a player who can pose a threat to defenses.

For example, Buffalo could look at the following receivers who are slated to become free agents after the season: Golden Tate, Cole Beasley, Devin Funchess, John Brown, Ryan Grant, Donte Moncrief, Tyrell Williams, or Randall Cobb, among others, which may be found at Spotrac’s web site. None of these players can fill the number one void that is lacking for the Bills.

Support for Josh Allen

Buffalo needs to surround their franchise quarterback with as many weapons as possible. Allen has worked with less-than-stellar players around him. If the team really wants to see if Allen can play in the NFL, they need to make a deeper investment in the skills positions on offense. This, coupled with better talent up front, would make Allen’s life much easier.

As of now, Allen has been forced to shoulder the load at various times this year. Yes, Allen has made some questionable decisions on the field. However, he will struggle to progress if he working with substandard talent. Bring in a former All-Pro in the prime of his career can only help the quarterback.

If all else fails on the field, Allen could get the ball into the hands of All-Pro in the prime of his career.